Caladium plant named ‘Posy Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Caladium  plant named ‘Posy Pink’, characterized by its intermediate height, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; fancy type leaves that have reddish pink-colored veins with pink-colored areas surrounding the venation, dark green-colored margins and interveinal areas that are suffused with dark red, grey green and green; and above average tolerance to  Xanthomonas  Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Caladium×hortulanum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘POSY PINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant, botanically known as Caladium×hortulanum, commercially referred to as a fancy leaf-type Caladium and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Posy Pink’.

The objective of the Inventor's breeding program is to create new Caladium plants that have uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance and attractive and unique leaf coloration.

The new Caladium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2007 in Avon Park, Fla. of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Aaron’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Caladium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. in September, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Caladium plant by ‘chipping’ the tubers (cutting the tuber into segments with each segment containing an axillary bud and tuber cortical tissue) in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Zolfo Springs, Fla. since April, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Caladium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Caladium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Posy Pink’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Posy Pink’ as a new and distinct Caladium plant:

-   -   1. Intermediate in height, upright and uniformly mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Fancy type leaves that have reddish pink-colored veins with         pink-colored areas surrounding the venation, dark green-colored         margins and interveinal areas that are suffused with dark red,         grey green and green.     -   4. Above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘Aaron’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Aaron’ differ in leaf color         as leaves of ‘Aaron’ have white-colored venation and radiating         interveinal areas surrounded with green-colored borders.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Aaron’ differ in leaf petiole         color as leaf petioles of ‘Aaron’ are green in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Aaron’ differ in tolerance to         Xanthomonas Leaf Spot as plants of ‘Aaron’ are more susceptible         to damage resulting from Xanthomonas Leaf Spot than plants of         the new Caladium.

Plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of the male parent, ‘John Peed’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘John Peed’ have dark red-colored centers and         red-colored venation with dark green-colored margins.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘John Peed’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘John Peed’ are dark pink with         dark green to close to black-colored stippling and streaks.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Rose Glow’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,070. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Rose Glow’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Rose Glow’ differ in leaf         color as leaves of ‘Rose Glow’ are red purple in color with         white-colored midveins, green-colored borders and dark         green-colored margins.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Rose Glow’ differ in leaf         petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Rose Glow’ are tan green in         color with darker green-colored tessellations and speckles.     -   3. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Rose Glow’ differ in         tolerance to Pythium Root Rot as plants of ‘Rose Glow’ are more         susceptible to damage resulting from Pythium Root Rot than         plants of the new Caladium.

Plants of the new Caladium can be compared to plants of Caladium×hortulanum ‘Carolyn Whorton’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Caladium differ primarily from plants of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Carolyn Whorton’ differ in         leaf color as leaves of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ are olive green in         color with pink-colored blotches and bright red to rose         pink-colored venation.     -   2. Plants of the new Caladium and ‘Carolyn Whorton’ differ in         leaf petiole color as leaf petioles of ‘Carolyn Whorton’ are tan         pink in color with darker-colored stippling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Caladium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Caladium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Posy Pink’ in a container and grown in a shadehouse (tuber not de-eyed).

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of the female parent, ‘Aaron’ (right), ‘Posy Pink’ (center) and the male parent, ‘John Peed’ (left).

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a comparison view of typical potted plants of ‘Rose Glow’ (right), ‘Posy Pink’ (center) and ‘Carolyn Whorton’ (left).

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a comparison view of typical plants of ‘Posy Pink’ grown in containers; the plant on the left has not had its tuber de-eyed and the plant on the right has had its tuber de-eyed prior to planting.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Posy Pink’ grown in an open field.

The photograph at the top of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical freshly-harvested tubers and roots of ‘Posy Pink’.

The photograph at the bottom of the fourth sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Posy Pink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse (30% light reduction) in Avon Park, Fla. and plants grown in ground beds under full sunlight conditions in an outdoor nursery in Crewsville, Fla. The plants were grown under cultural practices typical of commercial shadehouse and outdoor nursery production. During the production of the shadehouse-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 28° C. to 33° C., night temperatures ranged from about 22° C. to 25° C. and light levels were about 8,000 foot-candles. During the production of the outdoor nursery-grown plants, day temperatures ranged from about 29° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from about 23° C. to 26° C. and light levels ranged from about 10,000 to 12,000 foot-candles. Plants grown in the shadehouse were ten weeks old and plants grown in the outdoor nursery were eight months old when the photographs and the detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Caladium×hortulanum ‘Posy Pink’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘Aaron’, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Caladium×hortulanum ‘John Peed’,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By “chipping” the tubers.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures about 32° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three weeks at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Tuber description (outdoor nursery-grown             plants).—Appearance: Multi-segmented and somewhat flattened;             individual segments elliptic to ovate. Height: About 3.9 cm.             Diameter: About 4.4 cm to 4.9 cm. Segment height: About             2 cm. Segment diameter: About 1.7 cm to 2 cm. Axillary buds,             height: About 5 mm to 6 mm. Texture: Thick, starchy;             somewhat brittle. Color: Epidermis, freshly-harvested: Close             to 159D; outer skin, close to 199A to 199B. Epidermis,             dried: Close to 200A. Cortical tissue: Close to 4C. Axillary             buds: Close to 36B. Root description: Thick, fleshy             contractile roots; color, close to 155C. Rooting habit:             Dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial; suitable as a potted plant             in containers 15-cm to 25-cm and suitable as a landscape             plant in shaded areas.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Intermediate in height, upright and             uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous and dense             growth habit; rapid growth rate; potted plants in finished             or saleable form in about eight weeks after planting tubers;             leaf petioles and leaves arise from one or more growing             points on tubers; petioles mostly upright and outwardly             leaning with development.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of foliar plane,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 27 cm to 30 cm.         -   Plant height, from soil level to top of inflorescences,             shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 36 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread, shadehouse-grown potted             plants.—About 37 cm to 43 cm.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers not de-eyed.—About one to two develop per #1 tuber.         -   Number of shoots per plant, shadehouse-grown potted plants,             tubers de-eyed.—About three develop per #1 tuber.         -   Cataphylls, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Length: About             4.9 cm to 8.5 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm to 1.6 cm. Shape:             Wedge-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Sheathing the stem. Color,             inner surface: Close to N155C; colors and patterns on the             outer surface are visible on the inner surface. Color, outer             surface: Close to 199D and close to 159C tinged with close             to 147C; variably streaked and stippled with close to 200A             tinged with close to 147A; with development, color becoming             closer to 200B to 200C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and type.—Alternate; simple; fancy-type.         -   Length, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 19 cm to 27             cm.         -   Width, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—About 14 cm to 21 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate to peltate.         -   Margin.—Entire; mostly flat with broad undulations.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat rigid and slightly rugose.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Dull sheen.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Glaucous, dull sheen.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants.—Developing and fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Midvein: Close to 60A.             Primary veins: Close to 59A and 187B. Areas surrounding             venation: Close to 53B to 53C tinged with close to 184C.             Interveinal areas: Suffusion of close to 183A, 185B, 185C,             49D and 147A. Margins: Towards the margins, close to 147A             tinged with close to 137A; thin margin, close to 187A. Basal             notch: Close to 187A. Developing and fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Midvein: Close to 182D streaked and mottled             with close to 185B. Primary veins: Close to 195A sparsely             streaked with close to 184B. Areas surrounding venation:             Close to 184C. Interveinal areas: Close to 183C to 183D,             close to 191A and/or close to 191A tinged with close to             189A. Margins: Thin margin, close to 187B. Basal notch:             Close to 187B.         -   Petioles.—Aspect: Initially upright and straight; with             development, leaning outwardly; flexible. Length,             shadehouse-grown potted plants: About 20 cm to 23 cm.             Diameter, distally, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             4.5 mm to 6 mm. Diameter, proximally, shadehouse-grown             potted plants: About 8mm to 11 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous; glaucous. Color, shadehouse-grown potted plants:             Close to 200A, 202A or N170D flushed or densely streaked and             stippled with close to 200A; below the leaf and petiole             junction, close to 182A flushed or tinged with close to 200A             to 200B. Wing length, shadehouse-grown potted plants: About             5.5 cm to 7.2 cm. Wing diameter, shadehouse-grown potted             plants: About 8 mm. Texture, inner and outer surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster, inner and outer surfaces: Dull             sheen. Wing color, shadehouse-grown potted plants: Inner             surface: Close to N155C; colors and patterns on the outer             surface are visible on the inner surface. Outer surface:             Close to 199D and close to 159C tinged with close to 147C to             147D; densely and variably streaked, stippled or mottled             with close to 200A tinged with close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description: Inflorescences observed on ten week-old     shadehouse-grown potted plants.     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Upright hooded spathes             surrounding a columnar spadix borne on a tall upright scape;             spadix with sessile, simple female and male flowers             separated into two zones; female flowers develop on the             proximal one-third of the spadix; male flowers develop on             the distal two-thirds of the spadix; sterile flowers develop             at junction of female and male flower zones; near this             junction, the spathe constricts and surrounds and encloses             the female flowers; spathe open and cupped around male             flowers.         -   Fragrance.—Night-fragrant; sweet, jasmine-like with camphor             note.         -   Natural flowering season and flower longevity.—Plants of the             new Caladium typically flower during the spring and summer             in central Florida; flowers develop about ten weeks after             growth commences; inflorescences last about three days             before fading; inflorescences persistent.         -   Spathe.—Length, overall: About 13.5 cm. Length, distal open             portion: About 9 cm. Length, proximal closed portion: About             4.5 cm. Width, distal open portion: About 3.8 cm. Depth,             distal open portion: About 2.7 cm. Width, at constriction:             About 1.3 cm. Width, proximal closed portion: About 2.1 cm.             Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.             Texture, front and rear surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster,             front surface: Dull sheen. Luster, rear surface: Glaucous,             dull sheen. Color, front surface: Distal open portion: Close             to 155C; towards the margins, close to 192D; with             development, color becoming closer to 199B and 200C.             Proximal closed portion: Close to 194B to 194C; distally,             sparsely streaked with close to 187A; color does not change             with development. Color, rear surface: Distal open portion:             Close to 157D, 155C and 145D; color does not change with             development. Proximal closed portion: Close to 147B and             147C; areas streaked with close to 194B and 194C; color does             not change with development.         -   Spadix.—Length, overall: About 8.4 cm. Length, male flower             zone: About 4.9 cm. Length, sterile zone: About 1.8 cm.             Length, female flower zone: About 1.7 cm. Diameter, male             flower zone: About 1 cm. Diameter, sterile flower zone:             About 7 mm. Diameter, female flower zone: About 9 mm. Shape:             Spindle-shaped. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Aspect: Upright.             Color, mature, male zone: Close to 155D. Color, mature,             sterile zone: Close to 155D. Color, mature, female zone:             Close to 155A and 159C. Male flowers: Quantity per spadix:             About 210. Shape: Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             4D. Female flowers: Quantity per spadix: About 84. Shape:             Obovate. Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma             color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to 159C.         -   Scape.—Length: About 22.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Strength: Sturdy; flexible. Aspect: Mostly erect. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster: Dull sheen; glaucous. Color: Close             to 147B tinged with close to 200C and stippled and streaked             with close to 200B; just below spathe, close to 147B             stippled and streaked with close to 200B and 200C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Caladium. -   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been     observed to have above average tolerance to Xanthomonas Leaf Spot     and to have average tolerance to Pythium Root Rot. Plants of the new     Caladium have not been observed to have resistance to pests and     other pathogens common to Caladium plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Caladium have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 7° C. to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8A to 11. In cooler     zones, tubers can be “lifted” prior to first freeze and stored in a     cool dry environment overwinter for re-planting the following     spring. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Caladium plant named ‘Posy Pink’ as illustrated and described. 